Emigrating With A Disability In Australia

Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu and Sepilok

Sandakan, the small provincial town with air, was a prosperous place, thanks to the timber industry and other products considered luxury, like pearls or bird nests that were traded from Philippines to China.

Before World War II, Sandakan was the capital of the British North Borneo, Sabah the present, but after heavy shelling by both the Allies as the Japanese, who was left devastated completely, the capital was moved to Kota Kinabalu, then known as Jefferson - although he had also been in a deplorable state.

As with other cities in Borneo as Miri or Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan tourist interest lies not in the city itself but on its outskirts and in the east coast of Sabah are concentrated many natural resources that Borneo island has to offer.

When I started with the preparations for the trip and I first read the name of Sandakan, inevitably reminded me Sandokan, the character of the novel of the Italian Emilio Salgari whose adaptation has led to movies and television on several versions. However, I remember best was the one who starred in the Indian actor Kabir Bedi interesting, whose penetrating gaze crossed the small-screen black and white still-TV.

The so-called "Tigre of Malaysia "was a prince of Borneo to the British had seized the throne and murdered his family and therefore had sworn revenge.
seems that this character could have existed beyond the screens. Son of a noble family that grew rich Borneo trade swift nests in the caves area Gomatong highly valued in the Chinese market. According to Germany's Bianca Gerich has made several trips to Borneo trying to follow the thread, Sandokan lived in the nineteenth century in the Kinabatangan River area and it is no coincidence that the city of Sandakan bearing that name because some of their descendants lived there.
Currently Sandakan is a bustling city and its activity is mainly concentrated in the port and nearby streets, setting up a small space between a hill covered with jungle and sea. In addition to stroll can make some interesting views as the house-museum Agnes Keith , the British writer who lived in Sandakan as a British protectorate and her husband held the position of forest conservation in North Borneo.

The house is surrounded by greenery and is located on the hill enjoying superb views over the bay. For several years, the building half was abandoned and became home to drug addicts, squatters, junkies and prostitutes, but a successful restoration has to return the charm that should have taken the best of times. It is a charming two-story house, where in addition to different memories of the writer presents decorative objects and furniture, with a little imagination, you move to the colonial period helped by the black and white photographs hanging on the walls. Basically there are pictures of the town of Sandakan before World War 2 and thousands of family photos. On the first floor is the living - dining room and on the second floor at the office and great room with a bed in the center that she described in his books like a boat in the sea. In his book "Land Below The Wind " recounts his years in Borneo, but was released when Twentieth Century-Fox brought to the screen his book "Three Came Home " that tells her years in the fields of concentration after the Japanese invasion.

Within the same grounds and within walking distance of the house is the "Tea House Agnes Keith." Despite its name, it is not just a tea house but a fancy restaurant of the city. It is a lovely place that looks more like a set from Alice in Wonderland, with cricket field included. In the garden you have a few tables adorned with natural orchids and despite the price of scandal, we can not resist the temptation to sit on one of them overlooking the bay.

We return to the center and headed to the promenade. The surrounding streets are saturated with all kinds of shops, travel agencies that organize tours through the area, cheap hotels, fruit stands and lots of fun. The waterfront is nice, full of small restaurants that we could remember any Mediterranean village. There is much movement of both fishing boats and ferries that carry passengers to nearby islands to the city or the Philippines which is a stone's throw.

We are approaching the Central Market, a building looks quite new, clean and neat. Downstairs are food products and the first thing finds are the mountains of dried fish that despite its unpleasant smell much like Asians. The fruit and vegetables, as always, is what gives a touch of color but the area where they sell fresh fish is not far behind. People proudly displaying their catch and they love to take pictures of their posts: huge crabs, shrimp and many species unknown to us, like a goldfish aquarium that appear.

eat in a restaurant facing the sea and despite a few drops leaking enjoy the moment.

After lunch we decided to visit the Sandakan Memorial Park, where he was a field of Japanese POWs and starting point for calls "death marches" to Ranau. Is quite far from downtown and catch a public bus. Is the starting time of schools and the bus takes us through different neighborhoods and developments. So it seems, are leaving many passengers at the door of his house and 10 or 12 kilometers we thought to do in a few minutes, we make more an hour. The driver, a nice person, is watching us and let us just before the entrance to the park where they tell us that we reached our destination. This is a large park with a lake where many people playing sports and children playing after school. Under the trees are some half rusted machines corresponding to the time that here was the prison camp. At the end of the stairs is the memorial and a memorial commemorates the victims were killed Australian and British and Australian only 6 survivors of more than 2500 prisoners who were there.

In a small building shown an exhibition dedicated to POW (Prisoners of war ), the situation in Borneo within context of World War 2, the living conditions in the prison camp and death marches to Ranau, where most prisoners did not reach their destination due to the deplorable conditions of the march. An interesting but sad lesson of a chapter of history gray.

Another traveler visits almost every place in this part of Sabah, is that of Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Sepilok . To do this we stayed at the Sepilok Jungle Resort near overnight, but can be easily reached by public bus from Sandakan after about 25 km drive. The Center is located in a rainforest reserve called Kabili-Sepilok and occupies about 40km2. Orphaned or injured orangutans come to the Centre where they care for and prepare to be reintroduced into the forest. Twice a day, at 10am 3pm and is "feeding time " and leave them in a kind of fruit wood pallets which attract some individuals while others do not show themselves around. Follow the same system at the center of Semengohh we visited near Kuching in Sarawak, although Sepilok is much bigger and perhaps is more focused for tourism. That has some advantages but also disadvantages, such as greater numbers of people, because it is the second attraction after Mount Kinabalu Sabah, a fact that you can subtract a bit of charm to time.

So, wanting to meet again with the great apes, a little before 10 we walked to the Sepilok Centre. The ticket price is 15RM 30RM per person for those under 18, and 10RM for a camera or video. It's a bit expensive but the entry is for the whole day, allowing the center to visit morning and evening, increasing the chances of seeing orangutans and other wildlife. A wooden walkways that are introduced into the jungle, leading to the location are the platforms. This time is very busy and under a blazing sun a large group of tourists, which we join, we expect to close any of them. Is delayed, but eventually reach a few, especially juveniles, to get some bananas and milk that leaves them in a container. After spending an hour gawking with their games and stunts follow the catwalks towards the exit. In addition to the orangutans are able to see different animal species, such as flying squirrels, snakes and some other outrageous hornbill ( hornbill). Then go to the screening room where we see a charming story about orangutans and projects Rescue Center. In an adjoining room is a magnificent exhibition of photographs accompanied by interesting information. It is worth not missing any of the two activities, which complement the encounter with the orangutans.

We return to the Sepilok Jungle Resort where we spent the rest of the morning strolling through its beautiful environment. This is not a luxury resort, much less, but the gardens, the lake and everything around you yes it is a real luxury.

After lunch we return to the orangutan rehabilitation center and found far fewer people than morning, which is welcome. When we walk to the platforms, an orangutan comes unexpectedly and approaching us. Have been few moments to remember and one of the most rewarding feelings of the trip.